He was just 44 seconds away from a shutout last Thursday when Greenville’s Brandon Hynes scored in the K-Wings’ 5-1 ECHL win.

“Surprisingly, when the (Hynes’ shot) went in I was kinda upset, but then I thought maybe it was not meant to be,” the 20-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ontario, said.

The K-Wings traveled to the Gwinnett Gladiators for a 4-3 shootout win with Joel Martin in net on Friday, then returned to South Carolina where Binnington finally got his shutout.

The rookie said that in the final minute on Saturday he thought about the way Thursday’s shutout bid was ruined, but “It was a good finish to a big weekend.” He recorded 79 saves in the two games.

Joel Martin

Teammate Justin Taylor snagged the puck as a first shutout souvenir for the goalie.

K-Wings coach Nick Bootland said Binnington, who was a third-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in the 2011 NHL draft, and Martin are “arguably the best two in the league,” although their numbers don’t put them among the league’s top 10.

“Jordan is calm under pressure,” he said. “For a young guy like Binnington to be so poised and calm in net, I’m sure St. Louis is pleased.”

The K-Wings, who are 4-0-0-1 in their last five games, have one more game on the road before two at Wings Stadium.

The K-Wings (10-6-0-2) have climbed from the basement to third place, just three points behind the second-place Cincinnati Cyclones (12-7-0-1), and start the week with the first half of a home-and-home series, beginning in Cincinnati on Tuesday.

Action returns to Wings Stadium against the Cyclones on Friday. They remain at home to host the fourth-place Fort Wayne Komets (8-8-1-3) on Saturday.

Yanni Gourde

Those games at Wings Stadium are two of just five home games this month.

“Any game in your division is a four-point game,” Bootland said referring to the Cyclones and Komets. “We’ve had a tough fight against (the Cyclones) and we know how they play.”

The K-Wings are 1-1-0-1 against Cincinnati with all three games played at Wings Stadium.

It’s been a long week on the road, with the team returning from South Carolina at 11:15 a.m. Sunday, practicing on Monday, then leaving for Tuesday morning for that night's game.

“It’s pretty crazy, but that’s our job, that’s what we get paid for,” Binnington said of the travel.

Friday’s game features a teddy bear toss, with fans throwing stuffed animals to the ice when the K-Wings score their first goal. The toys will be distributed to various charities.

Binnington said he’s played in several teddy bear games, but they’re more fun for the skaters than the goalie.

Eric Kattelus

“It’s exciting for the fans and the kids and it’s a lot more fun for the players,” he said. “Everyone wants to get the first goal. But cleaning up the teddy bear part isn’t so much fun.”

Binnington said he’s learned a lot from both Martin and Ty Conklin, goalie development coach for the Blues.

“As a rookie, I realized that anywhere you go in pro, it’s a competition,” Binnington said. “Before I came here, I heard Joel Martin is a great goalie and a great guy. Me and Marty try to push each other.

“He’s a real good guy with a phenomenal work ethic. I’ve learned a lot from him. Plus Ty Conklin comes in every two weeks and gets me back to basics.”

Last week was a crucial turnaround for the K-Wings, who were last in the North Division the first few weeks of the season.

“We had to buy into the system completely,” Binnington said. “Booter (Bootland) was very positive. He guaranteed us it would work if we would buy in and be disciplined.”

Aaron Clarke

Bootland, who has often said this is the most coachable team he’s had in his six years as a head coach, said team concept is something he’s pushed.

“For an individual to have success, a team has to have success,” he said. “It starts with our top line.”

That line of Yanni Gourde, Eric Kattelus and Aaron Clarke is making noise in the league.

Gourde is tied for eighth in the ECHL with 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists). Kattelus is tied for 12th with 20 points (7-13) and is third with a plus-14 rating.

Clarke, who started the season on injured reserve, has six points (3-3) in 13 games. Gourde has a plus-9 rating and Clarke a plus-3.

Binnington (6-4-0-0) is 14th in the league with a 2.28 goals-against average

The defense is also chipping in with Mike Matczak (2 goals, 8 assists) for 10 points) and Sam Ftorek (4-5) third and fourth in team scoring. Matczak also is second with a plus-10 rating. All four of Ftorek’s tallies came on the power-play, making him the league’s leader among blueliners with the man advantage.